ROWING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2913, 12 January 1910, Page 67

ROWING.

PROFESSION A fi SCUIXIffG. THE WANGANUI MEETING. ARNST WINS EASILY. WANGANUI. January 6. The first heats of the Wanganui First Class Sculling Handicap were rowed to-day. The weather was beautifully fine, and the river was like glass, glittering in the sunlight. The attendance cf the public was very poor. A fair number drove or cvcled, and others patronised launches, row-boats, and traps, but there were very few passengers on the umpire's boat. This is to be regretted, as some of the finest sculling ever witnessed took place. The result of the heats leaves Arnst, Webb, and Hagney in the final, which promises to be a memorable race. Hagney covered tho course in the fastest time (13min 3sec), Webb occupying one and a-half seconds longer. Arnst's time was 13min 32sec, but as he won with ease, it is difficult to say how many seconds he may knock off on Saturday. Webb seemed to have had quit© enough after his great struggle with Green, but Hagney was quite fresh when he finished. The following are the results of to-day's racing : First Beat, R. Arnst (scratch, .- ■. 1 A. D. Felton (13sec) 2 S. Kemp (l&see) .... 3 Kemp, evidently determined to make the most of his start, dashed away at 37 to the minute. Felton followed with 32, whilst Arnst. began with 30. His strokes had great power, however, and before half a mile was covered be had gained a length on Felton, who was a length in the rear of Kemp. Felton was steering badly, and Kemp kept him into the willows. Kemp at the mile, which was rowed in 6min 40scc, drew away a couple of lengths, and Arnst, who was rowing 26 to the minute, had got another length nearer. The champion continued to wear the leaders down, and at a mile and a-quarter was left with Felton, who appeared to be done. Kemp was still going strongly, but Arnst gradually decreased the gap to about a length, Kemp blocking him. The champion, however, was not to be denied, and pulling with his long, swinging stroke, passed Kemp on the inside at a mile and a-half. Felton, who in the meantime had collided with the willows, was eight or nine lengths behind. Ho then livened up, and passed Kemp a quarter of a. mile from home Kemp made a. big effort to catch Felton but could not do so. Arnst rowed home aii easy winner by about four lengths. Time, lomin 48seo. (The time given is that which elapsed from the first man starting to gunfire.) Second Heat. W. Webb (3sec) .- ... ... 1 Dick Green (23scc) ... 2 J. Mitchell (Msec) ... ". 3 This was a great race, being fought out to the winning-posit Green had a lead of about 12 lengths when Webb got away. At a quarter of a mile Mitchell was seven lengths behind Green, and four lengths in front of Webb, who was not steering well. Mitchell then got too close under the willows and lost a stroke. Webb soon settled down, and was overhauling Mitchell near the three-quarter n ile post, when the latter ran into the willows and stopped for some seconds. Webb also had a narrow escape at this point, but he continued to scull strongly and cleanly at. 27 to the minute, and at the mile (6min 35sec) was about five Lengths ir. the rw of Green.

At, this point ilie spectators could see that they were about to witness a great struggle, and so it proved. Webb gradually chew up to Green until at the mile and a-half lie was a little over two lengths away. Green repeatedly blocked him, but Webb eventually cut in on the inside, and rowed abrea.st of Green for some distance. Both men seemed ready to stop, and Green did so momentarily. He came on again, however, and a great exhibition of endurance followed, the ox-champion ultimately winning by nearly a length. Time, 13min 24^sec. Third Heat. F. S. Hagney (lOscc) .. . •.. 1 Bob Green (15sec) .. 2 E. Larson (19sec) 3 Te Rewhiti (25sec) 4 Larsen Te Rewhiti about the quarter-mile, a.nil led Green by half afe.ogth, the latter being a length and ahalf in front of Hagney. The ex-cyclist, though splashing a good deal, was sculling well, his strokes (28 to the minute) being very powerful. Green continued to catch Larson, with whom he was on equal terms at the three-quarter mile post, Hagney being about a length behind, and apparently sculling well within himself. At the mile (covered in 6min 30see) he was ahead of Green, and from this point led easily to the winning-post. Green challenged him several times, but Hagney drew away when ho liked. Larson collided with the willows and lost a number of lengths, while Te Rewhiti was .also far in the rear. Green pulled gallantly to the end, but Hagney won by a couple of lengths. Time, 13min 18sco. January 9. The final heat of the Wanganui Sculling Handicap was rowed on Saiturdav afternoon, three steamers, carrying full complements, followed the races, and a good number of people were assembled on the banks. The Farewell Handicap, which was rowed first, was more interesting than the final of the handicap—three lengths would have covered the seven scullers at the finish. The first mile of. the final was exciting, three men being practically together. Webb's gruelling on the first day made itself unexpectedly felt at this point, and he dropped out of the race. The second mile was naturally slower, and the capabilities of Arnst and Hagnev are still unknown. The weather was 'beautiful, though the water was slightly ruffled by a breeze. Results: FAREWELL HANDICAP. Kemp. sseo 1 Dick Green, Bsec 2 E. Larson, 9sec 3

Also started: W. Mitchell 2seo, Bob Green 2soc, A. D. Felton scratch, and To Rawhiti 15sec.

When the umpire's boat reached the starting-point the seven competitors -were on the mark, the sight being" very pretty. No time was wasted, and the scullers wore soon on their journey. ,Te Eawhiti, the limit man, led to the half-mile, his nearest attendants beinc; Kemp, Dick Green, and Larsen. Felton followed Mitchell and Rob Green. Kemp then quickened up and a quarter of a mile further on. was leading, Mitchell being next to Te Rawhiti and Fe-iton closing up. The boats were all fairly close, throe or four lengths covering the lot, and all getting under the left bank. At the mile Felton had a good opening, and it was thought he would take advantage of it, but he seemed unable to quicken his stroke. Kemp then went out into the centre of the river and increased his lead by a length. Dick Green followed him, the others 'wine- dose together, Larsen, Mitchell, and To Rawhiti lying at t* rear. Dick Green, in order to escape the wind and the rough water, went under the left bank, Felton soon after doing the same. Though he seemed to have, had quite enough. Green began to- overhaul Kemp, but, the latter, realising the advantage which Green was deriving, forsook the middle of the river and also went under the right bank. From this point the race resolved itself into two struggles—viz., between Kemp and Green on the extreme right, and Mitchell, Larsen, and Bob Green on the extreme left. Both parties were almost on equal terms, and tho contest was exceedingly interesting. About a quarter of a mile from home, Kemp made a strong spurt and got throe or four lengths from Green, who, how-ever, as on Thursday, showed that he is made of touch stuff, for he came at. Kemn and got within a length of him. Kemp "again got weight into his strokes, and despite a strong challenge, held his own and gained the judge's verdict by a length and a quarter. Meamvhile, a stiff fight was beinomade under the other bank. Mitchell. Lar" sen. and Bob Green were bunched together till almost on the post, when Larsen struggled to the front and rowed into third place three-quarters of a length ahead of Mitchell. Green was very close up, and Te Eawhiti was not far behind. Time-, 13min 32sec. The first mil® was covered in 6min 15sec. WANGANUI FIRST CLASS HANDICAP. R. Arnst, scratch 1 F. S. Hagney, lOsec 2 W. Webb, 3seo 3

On the word "Go," Hagney set his teeth and dug- the oars in determinedly at 37 to the minute. Ho made the host use of his handicap, and was almost four lengths away when Webb started. Arnst was barely a length away from Webb when, he began his journey. For the first minute Webb rowed 32 strokes, Arnst putting' in 30. Hagney continued to row a rapid stroke. But when the quarter-mile was reached', both Webb and Arnst, who had dropped down to 27 and 26 respectively, had gained on him a little. At the halfmile Webb was a couple of lengths behind Hagney and a length and a quarter in in front of Arnst. The three men drew towards the left, bank, and Hagney appeared, when three-quarters of a mile had been covered, to have a lead' of nearly three length. Arnst began to close up on Webb and both gradually overhauled Hagney. until at the mile the champion was half a length behind the ex-champion and Hagney was eight or nine feet in front of Webb, who was next to the bank. Webb appeared to be sculling well and comfortably, when he suddenly stopped and looked round at the fast, disappearing pair. When they had a lead of a dozen lengths, he started again. Attention was now directed to Arnst and Hagney, who, though they had perceptibly slackened down, were rowing well. Arnst, who maintained the same stroke he set after the. first couple of minutes, _ gradually caught Hagnoy. He passed him at a mile and a half and led him to the finish, winning by a little over a length. During the last stages, Hagney endeavoured several times to catch Arnst, but the champion, to all appearances, was quite rnclisturbed, and continued at the

same rate. Time, 13min 43scc. The firsf mile was rowed' in 6min 85,-scc. The timer arc those taken from the start of ma first ma«n away. Arnst has received a communication from Sydney, stating that £250 is forthcoming for a match with Pcaroo on the Parramatta River. Further negotiations are now in progress THE WANGANUI HANDICAP. WANGANUI, January 10. The ceremony of paying over the stakes in connection with the recent sculling carnival took place this evening. After the winners had received their money an enjoyable social hour was spent with toast, song, and story. ARNST v. PEARCE. PERTH, January 9. Arnst lias cabled that he is willing to row Pearce on the Swan River for the world's championship, £SOO aside and half the gate. He also 'requires £l5O expenses. The promoters consider the proposed terms too high. SCULLING MATCH. NELSON, January 5. T. Lawson, of Nelson, has deposited £l{ with the Colonist for a sculling match with R. Green, New South Wales, in Nelson harbour, for £25 a-sicle, distance two miles.